Height-adjustable stools



April 17, 1956 M. LIEF 2,742,032

HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE STOOLS Filed Aug. 23, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l d 2 5INVENTOR.

FIG.|0. MILTON LIEF April 17, 1956 M. LIEF HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE STOOLS 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 23. 1954 NW /W FIG.4.

INVENTOR.

MILTON LIEF I --II-- III/Y 9v vVY I FIG. 2.

HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE STOOLS Milton Lief, Olivette, M0,, assignor to'Chromcraft Corporation, a corporation of Missouri Application August23, 1954, Serial No. 451,593 5 Claims. (Cl. 155--94) "This inventionrelates in general to certain new and useful improvements in seatingstructures and, more particularly, to a height-adjustable stool.

I It is the primary object of the present invention to provide aheight-adjustable stool which is relatively simple in construction andis unusually rugged-and long-wearing.

It'is also an object of the present invention to provide a stool of thetype stated which .can be economically heights by simply lifting thestool-to the selected height and bringing it to rest in ,thedesired-position.

With the above and other objects inview, rnyrinvention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, ar rangement, ,and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out inthe claims.

.v In the accompanying drawings (two .sheets-)-- Figure l is a sideelevationalviewofa stool constructed accordance with and embodying ,thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view 'taken along line 2- 2 of Figure,1;

, Figures 3, 4, and 5.,lare fragmentary horizontalsectional views.takenalong lines 3-.-3, 4-4, and :5-5;, respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is :a horizontal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figurel; j

Figure 7 isa fragmentary yertical seetionaL-view taken along line 7-7 ofFigure 3 showing theheight-adjustment mechanism of the stoolinlocked-position;

:Figure, 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view ,similar to Figure 7showing the theighteadjustment in unlocked position;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional yiew taken along line 9--9 of Figure 3;and l Figure 1 isa transverse sectional-viewtaken along line 10-10 ofFigure 1.

Referring now in more detailand by reference (characters -to thedrawings, which illustrate alpreferred embodiment of the presentinvention, A designates a heightadjustable stool comprising a ,base 1-consisting :of two spaced parallel channels 2, 3,-.of -equal length -andsecured together by .a substantiallysquare .bottom plate -il welded orotherwise rigidly attached to the lower ;flanges thereof. Also weldedtoand extending horizontally between the upper flanges of the channels2,.3,=,is a top tplate dis posed .in upwardly spaced parallel relationto the bottom plate 4 and projecting outwardly in front thereof by asubstantial distance to provide an extension portion 5' to which afootjboard 6 .is secured ,by means of wood screws 7.

United States Patent 0 I 2,742,082 Patented .Apr. 17, 1956 Mountedcentrally'of the base 1 and extending vertically upwardly therefrom is astandard 8 formed preferably of metallic tubing having a squarecross-sectional shape and being welded at its lower end to the bottomplate 4. Tightly disposed within the standard'S and projecting upwardlytherefrom is a post member 9 also formed of metallic tubing havingcircular cross-sectional shape and being welded at its lower end to thestandard 8. The upper end of the post 9, which projects beyond thestandard'8, is, furthermore, provided with an external tubular sheath10, which abuts against the upwardly presented horizontal margin of thestandard 8 and is tack welded thereto. The upwardly projecting end ofthe standard 8 is decoratively enclosed within a somewhat parabolic bell11 having an outward flange 12, which is welded to the upper face of theplate 5. At its upper end, the bell 11 abuts against the outerperipheral surface of the standard 8 and the juncture lines between thebell 11 and the standard 8, as Well as between the standard 8 and thesheath 10, are concealed by a ferrule 13.

Telescopically mounted externally upon the sheath 10, for snug-fittingslidable engagement therewith, is a seatsupporting tube 14 whichprojects at its upper end through an inverted frusto-conical metallicstamping 15, to which it is welded. The stamping 15 is, furthermore,provided interiorly with a horizontal reinforcing plate 16 having aplurality of radialcorrugations 17 for imparting strength and rigiditythereto. In its central area, the reinforcing plate 16 is dishedupwardly for receiving a circular disk 18, which is welded to the underside of the reinforcing plate around its peripheral margin and is, inturn, shaped to provide a shallow socket for receiving the upper end ofthe seating post 14 which is, in turn, welded thereto, substantially asshown in Figure 2. The reinforcing plate 16 and disk18 areconcentrically apertured for receiving the upper diametrally reduced end19 of a vertical griprod 20. The grip-rod end 19, is annularlyunder-cutfor receiving a retaining ring 21 by which the grip-rod 20 isrigidly secured to the reinforcing plate 16 and disk 18. The grip-rod 20extends concentrically downwardly through the seating post 9 and is ofsuch length that, when the stool is shifted to its lowermost positionwith the under face of the disk 18 resting upon the upwardly presentedend face of the sheath 10, as shown in Figure 2, the lower end of thegrip-rod 20 will be located approximately at the vupper end of thestandard 8. Just below the disk 18, the grip-rod 20 is provided with anannular groove 22 having upwardly and downwardly tapered shoulders 23,23, for purposes presently more fully appearing.

Rigidlysecured to the lower end of the grip-rod 20 by means of adiametral pin 24 is an external grip-rod stabilizing collar25,whichbears slidably on its outer peripheral face against the interiorsurface of the seating post v9. On its interior face, the stabilizingring is provided with two diametrally opposite quarter-circle recesses26, 26, which are respectively located on opposite sides of the pin 24,substantially as shown in Figure 4.

Slip-fitted into the upper end of the seating post 9 is a chuck-formingsleeve'27 having an arcuate annular groove 28 into which the p0st9 isrolled, as at 29, whereby the sleeve 27 is retentively secured in place.The-interior of thechuck-forming sleeve 27 is provided with acylindrical bore 30, which extends upwardly from thelower end there ofand merges into an upwardly and outwardly diverging conical chuck-face31. vAt its upper end, the chuck-face 31 is .counterbored to provide ashouldered recess 32 for receiving a bearing disk 33, which isinternally bored for snug-fitting islidableengagement against thegrip-rod 20. Located loosely within the conical recess formed betweenthe chuck-face 31 and the outer face of the igrip'rod 20 is a ring of'b'all bearings'34, the diametral size of which is slightly smaller thanthe width of the recess at its upper or widest end.

Slidably interposed between the bore 30 and the griprod 20 is a sleeve35 formed of spring steel or other similar resilient material so as toimpose an appreciable degree of friction against the bore 39. Welded orotherwise rigidly secured to the lower end of the sleeve 35 atdiametrally opposite positions are two elongated lathlike operating bars36 having a quarter-circle cross-sectional shape conforming to thecurvature of the grip-rod 24) in order to lie smoothly and snuglythereagainst. The operating bars 36 are provided with elongated verticalclosed-end slots 37, the upper end of which is located substantiallybelow the points of attachment between the bars 36 and the sleeve 35.Similarly, the lower ends of the slots 37 are located substantiallyabove the lower transverse ends of the bars 36. The slots 37,furthermore, slidably embrace the outwardly projecting ends of adiametral pin 38 rigidly fixed in the lower end of the grip-rod 20 ashort distance above the stabilizing collar 25. The upper end of thesleeve 35 projects upwardly into the conical recess R to the positionshown in Figure 7. In this position, the steel balls 34 are free to dropdownwardly under the influence of gravity until they are tightly wedgedbetween the chuck-face 31 and the grip-rod 29. Thus, the grip-rod 2%will be prevented from moving downwardly by the steel balls 34. However,the grip-rod 20 may be pulled upwardly, since such movement will causethe steel balls to roll upwardly and loo-sen their grip upon thegrip-rod 20. As soon as upward movement is stopped, the balls 34 willagain roll down into gripping position to hold the grip-rod in suchupwardly shifted position. During vertical movement, the grip-rod 20 isstabilized at its lower end by the stabilizing collar 25 and at itsupper end by the bearing disk 33.

The upper margin of the stamping 15 is provided with a horizontal flange239 for supporting the seat element 40, which may be of any conventionaltype or design and is secured thereto by means of wood screws 41.

In use, the seat 40 may be pulled upwardly from its lowermost positionto any desired position of vertical adjustment until the grip-rod 20reaches the upper limit of its travel, that is to say, the positionshown in Figure 8 in which the pins 38 are at the top of the slots 37and the end faces of the bars 36 abut against the under face of thesleeve 27. In any selected position of adjustment, the entire structurewill be held firmly in place by means of the steel balls 34 in themanner above described. If, however, it is desired to lower the seat 4%,it .is pulled upwardly until the pin 38 engages the upper end of theslots 37 in the operating bars 36. A short amount of continued upwardmovement will cause the operating bars to be pushed upwardly and thesleeve 35 will, in turn, be pushed upwardly into the recess R, liftingthe steel balls 34 to the position shown in Figure 8. In this position,the steel balls 34 will be completely disengaged from the grip-rod 20and the latter, together with its supported structure, may be loweredall the way down to the lowermost position. As the grip-rod 20 reachesits lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2, the pin 38 will now engagethe lower ends of the slots 37 in the actuating bars 36 and a shortamount of con tinued downward movement will shift the operating bars 36downwardly withdrawing the sleeve 35 and causing the steel balls 34- todrop downwardly again in the recess R. At this position, however, theannular groove 22 is disposed within the recess R so that the steelballs 34 will ride loosely against the grip-rod 20, notwithstanding thedownward retraction of the sleeve 35. However, as the seat 49 and itsassociated supporting structure, including the grip-rod 20, is elevateda short distance, the groove 22 will move upwardly out of the recess Rand the steel balls 34 will re-engage the grip-rod 20 for the purpose ofholding it in any selected position of upwardly shifted or verticaladjustment.

The user, therefore, can directly adjust the seat 40 to any verticalheight desired which is above a previous position by simply moving theseat upwardly to the selected position. On the other hand, if the userdesires to adjust the seat downwardly to a position below a previousposition, the seat 40 and its entire supporting structure, including thegrip-rod 20, must be lifted to the upper limit of its travel and loweredall the way to the bottom again so that the desired vertical height maybe thereafter reached by upward lifting movement of the seat 44).

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of theheight-adjustable stool may be made and substituted for those hereinshown and described without departing from the nature and principle ofmy invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. An elevating pedestal for stools and the like comprising a baseelement, a vertical tube rigidly fastened at its lower end to the baseand provided at its upper end with a chuck-forming sleeve having atapered inner face which diverges upwardly, a seat supporting elementtelescopically mounted in the tube and disposed loosely through thechuck-forming sleeve, a plurality of balls loosely disposed between thetapered face of the chuckforming sleeve and the seat supporting elementfor binding the latter against downward movement while leaving it freefor upward movement, a slidable sleeve operatively mounted in the lowerend of the chuck-forming sleeve and disposed loosely around the seatsupporting element, said slidable sleeve being adapted upon upwardshifting movement to push the balls upwardly to a position in which theywill not bind the seat supporting element, said slidable sleeve beingfurther adapted, upon downward shifting movement, to drop away from theballs, leaving them free to bind the seat supporting element and hold itin any upwardly shifted position, an actuator bar attached to andextending downwardly from said slidable sleeve between the tube and theseat supporting element, said actuating bar being provided with a closedended vertical slot, and a pin in the lower end of the seat supportingelement and engaged in said slot for shifting the slidable sleeveupwardly when the seat supporting element reaches the upper limit of itstravel and shifting the slidable sleeve downwardly as theseat'supporting element reaches the lower limit of its travel.

2. An elevating pedestal for stools and the like com-- prising a baseelement, a vertical tube rigidly fastened at its lower end to the baseand provided at its upper end with a chuck-forming sleeve having atapered inner face which diverges upwardly, a seat supporting elementtelescopically mounted in the tube and disposed loosely through thechuck-forming sleeve, a plurality of balls loosely disposed between thetapered face of the chuckforming sleeve and the seat supporting elementfor binding the latter against downward movement while leaving it freefor upward movement, a slidable sleeve operatively mounted in the lowerend of the chuck-forming sleeve and disposed loosely around the seatsupporting element, said slidable sleeve being adapted upon upwardshifting r movement to push the balls upwardly to a position in whichthey will not bind the seat supporting element, said slidable sleevebeing further adapted, upon downward shifting movement, to drop awayfrom the balls, leaving them free to bind the seat supporting elementand hold it in any upwardly shifted position, an actuator bar attachedto and extending downwardly from said slidable sleeve between the tubeand the seat supporting element, said actuating bar being provided witha closed ended vertical slot, a pin in the lower end of the seatsupporting element and engaged in said slot for shifting the slidablesleeve upwardly when the seat supporting element reaches the upper limitof its travel and shifting the slidable sleeve downwardly as the seatsupporting element reaches the lower limit of its travel, and astabilizing member mounted on the lower end of the seat supportingelement for sliding engagement with the interior of the tube.

3. An elevating pedestal for stools and the like comprising a baseelement, a vertical tube rigidly fastened at its lower end to the baseand provided at its upper end with a chuck-forming sleeve having atapered inner face which diverges upwardly, a seat supporting elementtelescopically mounted in the tube and disposed loosely through thechuck-forming sleeve, a plurality of balls loosely disposed between thetapered face of the chuckforming sleeve and the seat supporting elementfor binding the latter against downward movement while leaving it freefor upward movement, a slidable sleeve operatively mounted in the lowerend of the chuck-forming sleeve and disposed loosely around the seatsupporting element, said slidable sleeve being adapted upon upwardshifting movement to push the balls upwardly to a position in which theywill not bind the seat supporting element, said slidable sleeve beingfurther adapted, upon downward shifting movement, to drop away from the.balls, leaving them free to bind the seat supporting element and hold itin any upwardly shifted position, an actuator bar attached to andextending downwardly from said slidable sleeve between the tube and theseat supporting element, said actuating bar being provided with a closedended vertical slot,

a pin in the lower end of the seat supporting element and engaged insaid slot for shifting the slidable sleeve upwardly when the seatsupporting element reaches the upper limit of its travel and shiftingthe slidable sleeve downwardly as the seat supporting element reachesthe lower limit of its travel, and a stabilizing member mounted on thelower end of the seat supporting element for sliding engagement with theinterior of the tube, said stabilizing member being slotted for clearingthe actuator bar.

4. An elevating pedestal for stools and the like comprising a baseelement, a vertical tube rigidly fastened at its lower end to the baseand provided at its upper end with a chuck-forming sleeve having atapered inner face which diverges upwardly, a seat supporting elementtelescopically mounted in the tube and disposed loosely through thechuck-forming sleeve, a plurality of balls loosely disposed between thetapered face of the chuckforming sleeve and the seat supporting elementfor binding the latter against downward movement while leaving it freefor upward movement, a slidable sleeve operatively mounted in the lowerend of the chuck-forming sleeve and disposed loosely around the seatsupporting element, said slidable sleeve being adapted upon upwardshifting movement to push the balls upwardly to a position in which theywill not bind the seat supporting element, said slidable sleeve beingfurther adapted, upon downward 6 shifting movement, to drop away fromthe balls, leaving them free to bind the seat supporting element andhold it in any upwardly shifted position, an actuator bar attached toand extending downwardly from said slidable sleeve between the tube andthe seat supporting element, said actuati'ng bar being provided with aclosed ended vertical slot, a pin in the lower end of the seatsupporting element and engaged in said slot for shifting the slidablesleeve upwardly when the seat supporting element reaches the upperliniit of its travel and shifting the slidable sleeve downwardly as theseat supporting element reaches the lower limit of its travel, astabilizing member mounted on the lower end of the seat supportingelement for sliding engagement with the interior of the tube, and astabilizing bearing disk rigidly mounted in the upper end of the tubeand being slidably engaged with the seat supporting memher.

5. An elevating pedestal for stools and the like comprising a baseelement, a vertical tube rigidly fastened at its lower end to the baseand provided at its upper end with a chuck-forming sleeve having atapered inner face which diverges upwardly, a seat supporting elementtelescopically mounted in the tube and disposed loosely through thechuck-forming sleeve, a plurality of balls loosely disposed between thetapered face of the chuckforming sleeve and the seat supporting elementfor binding the latter against downward movement while leaving it freefor upward movement, a slidable sleeve operatively mounted in the lowerend of the chuck-forming sleeve and disposed loosely around the seatsupporting element, said slidable sleeve being adapted upon upwardshifting movement to push the balls upwardly to'a position in which theywill not bind the seat supporting element, said slidable sleeve beingfurther adapted, upon downward,

shifting movement, to drop away from the balls, leaving them free tobind the seat supporting element and hold it in any upwardly shiftedposition, a pair of diametrally opposite actuator bars attached to andextending downwardly from said slidable sleeve between the tube and theseat supporting element, said actuating bars each being provided with aclosed ended vertical slot, and a pin in the lower end of the seatsupporting element and engaged in said slots for shifting the slidablesleeve upwardly when the seat supporting element reaches the upper limitof its travel and shifting the slidable sleeve downwardly as the seatsupporting element reaches the lower limit of its travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS720,549 Adler Feb. 17, 1903 2,010,290 Campbell Aug. 6, 1935 2,364,191Campbell Dec. 5, 1944

